Display device



July 18, 1939. E. s. YANCEY I DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Nov. 30, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WRMILW gvwcntm E .5. YANCEY E. S. YANCEY DISPLAY DEVICE July 18,1939.

Filed Nov. 30, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y E12 WWW E.\S.YANCEY 6m @QQMJEJ E. S. YANCEY DISPLAY DEVICE July 18, 1939.

Filed Nov. 30, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E .5. YARQEY Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The invention relates to an improvement in devices for displaying prices and other advertising matter, in and about stores and vegetable counters and the like.

The requirements for the displaying of prices and information signs about stores is quite varied and. it is therefore necessary to provide a. construction which is capable of considerable variation and alteration in order to accommodate it for its varied uses.

The present application relates somewhat to the same sub ect-matter as disclosed in my prior copending application, which has resulted in Patent 2,001,404 granted May 14, 1935 for a Card holder and display stand, and the subject matter between the two is common to some extent.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a display device wherein part of the matter being displayed can be positioned upon the device and part of the matter can be positioned on top of the device so that it appears in outline and in this manner is more attractive and readily visible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device wherein some of the characters are seen in profile so that they are more noticeable than otherwise.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame upon which some characters can be mounted in profile and in which the frame serves as a background for other characters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a framework with detents in combination with characters having tabs adapted to be received by the detents in such a manner that the characters will be displayed in profile with respect to the frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a manner of attaching the characters to the frame and the frame to a supporting structure in such a manner that a neat and economical display device will be provided.

It is also an object of the invention to provide cutout areas in the frame so that some of the characters may be inserted in the cutout portions so that the characters will be in this manner supported on the frame.

It is also an object of the invention to providewhich the character may be supported so that it will be displayed in profile.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one of the display devices showing part of the characters in profile and part supported on the framework.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1 illustrating one manner of connecting the characters, the frame, and the support.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of Fig. 2 and showing an attachment which is arranged to be suspended from the framework in order to convey additional information.

Fig. 4 shows one form of the attachment which is applied in Fig. 3 and shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows a view of one of the profile characters and illustrating the tab by which it is attached.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a device somewhat similar to that of Fig. l but showing the device as suspended upon a wire and illustrating the use of the normal supporting structure as an arrow to indicate the direction of the merchandise to which the characters relate.

Fig. 7 is a rear view of the structure of Fig. 6 and illustrating a modified form of the tab attachment for the profile characters.

Fig. 8 is an edge view of the device of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 shows a form of the invention wherein the device is suspended from a shelf by means of a hanger and the profile characters are supported on the frame.

Fig. 10 is an edge view of the structure of Fig. 9.

Figs. 11 and 12 are a rear view and an edge view respectively, of a slightly modified form of the Fig. 9 construction wherein the characters are illustrated in profile instead of being positioned upon the frame.

Fig, 13 is a front elevation of one form of the frame wherein the profile characters are disposed above the frame and other characters are displayed on the frame in such a manner that they may be removed or altered as desired.

Fig. 14 is a rear view of the structure of Fig. 13 and shows one form of attaching the profile characters and of supporting the frame.

Fig. 15 shows a front elevation of a still further modified form of the frame and characters.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line |6--|6 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 shows a form of insert which can be applied to the frame as seen in Fig. 13 wherein a plurality of characters are disposed upon the insert and wherein the insert is provided with cutout portions to receive still other characters.

Fig. 18 shows a blank form upon which the characters may be placed and which can be added to the insert of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a detailed view showing one manner of attaching the frame and supporting structure by having interlocking tongues thereon.

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken on the line 20-20 of Fig. 19.

The present device is particularly adapted for use in and about grocery stores, drug stores, and similar places of business where a great number and variety of articles are displayed.

Fig. 1 shows a form of the device wherein a supporting structure 2 in the form of a dart or prong has been provided. This type of support is particularly adapted for use upon vegetable counters or where bulk goods are displayed so that the dart portion 2 can be inserted into the merchandise and in this manner the display device will be supported in an attractive position. This support 2 has a frame 3 attached to it in any desired manner.

The Fig. 2.form of the invention shows the frame 3 as. soldered or welded to the top of the support t. In Figs. 19 and 20, however, a modified form has been shown wherein a tongue 5 has been struck out from the frame 3 and a corresponding tongue 6 has been struck out from the top of the support 2. These tongues are offset with respect to each other so that they may be interfitted as seen in Fig. 20.

After they have been positioned in this manner a rivet I or a suitable brad may be passed through both parts to hold them in position.

As will be apparent there are two sets of these tongues so that when the rivet i is positioned between them there can be no twisting or turning of the frame with respect to the support.

The frame 3 is seen in edge view in Fig. 3 and has its lower edge formed with a recurved lip 9 which is somewhat resilient and forms a channel 10 which is arranged to receive the inserts ll. These inserts may be of the type shown in Fig. 1 where a plurality of characters R2 are printed or otherwise formed upon each of the inserts II. If desired, one insert may be used or any number may be applied in the channel ID in order to convey the desired information.

In Fig. 1 the characters 1 and have been inserted between for and lbs. for purpose of illustration. Any arrangement of inserts and characters can be made, however. The resiliency of the lip 9 tends to hold these inserts or characters in the desired upright position against the frame 3. They are removable by exerting a pressure upon them, however.

In order to make the device more attractive, certain of the characters have been attached as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 so that they project above the frame 3. These characters are seen in profile and form a very attractive sign. These characters may be stamped from metal or nonmetallic material such as Celluloid, if desired.

"Oneqof the charactersis seen in Fig. and includes the body 14 of the character in combination with a tab or tongue l5 which projects from one end of the character.

The tongue IS in Fig. 5 is shown as projecting from the base of the character but the tongue may project from the top as seen in Figs. 9 and 11. In Fig. 5 the tongue is provided with an opening l6 which is arranged to receive the lug I! which is struck out from the top of the frame 3 as best seen in Fig. 2. In order to attach the character the lug I1 is passed through the opening I6 and the tip iii of the tongue I5 is then passed into a pocket 20 which is struck out from the body of the frame 3. The tongue I5 is somewhat fiexible so that after the lug I1 has been positioned the tongue may be flexed so that the tip is passed into the pocket. In this manner the character is securely positioned so that it cannot readily be displaced. It seems obvious that the characters may be changed at will in order to convey the desired information.

If additional information other than the profile characters and the characters supported by the frame 3 is desired, an attachment such as the plate 22 of Fig. 4 can be provided. This plate has an opening 23 therein and a tab 24 arranged to project into the opening. A pocket 25 is formed on the top of the support 2 in such a manner that when the plate 22 is passed upwardly over the support 2 the tab 24 may be passed in the pocket 25 and the plate will be supported as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and may convey special information such as indicated on the face of the plate in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a form of the invention wherein the device may be supported on a wire or cable 21. Occasion arises for such an arrangement in stores where goods are displayed in the middle of the floor, such as in drug stores and department stores, and it is desired to display the sign just above the goods, and for this purpose a wire may be drawn taut across above the merchandise displayed. Supporting ears 28 have been formed upon the back of the frame 3 so that they may be passed over the wire 21 as seen in Fig. 7. In this manner the device can be suspended from the wire in an appropriate position.

In this form of the invention the supporting structure 2 has taken the form of an arrow or dart 29 so that it serves as an arrow to indicate the direction of the goods to which the price or display is directed. This form of the invention, of course, serves a dual purpose because the dart 29 can be used as a support for the same if it is desired to use it in bulk goods as described in connection with Fig. l. The channel In is provided in this form of the invention, the same as in Fig. 1 and the profile characters i4 may be attached in any desired manner. A modified form of attachment has been shown in Fig. '7, however, wherein the lug H of Fig. 2 has been modified so as to take the form of a pivot 3| and the pockets 20 have been modified to take the form of a clip 32 which is free at one end to obtain a springlike action to hold the tongue I5 in position. As seen in dotted lines in Fig. 7 the characters can be passed over the pivot 3| and then pivoted about this point so that the tongue will be passed beneath the clip 32. A projection 33 on the inside face of the clip 32 cooperates with a depression 34 in the tongue which tends to snap the tongue into position and hold it firmly so that the characters cannot be displaced. This form of attachment for the tongue may be of advantage in attaching and removing the characters.

Fig. 9 shows a form where the display device is suspended from a shelf 40 by means of a bracket 4| which may be of the type which fits closely about the shelf and has a depending portion 42 which is arranged to pass through an opening 43 in the frame 44. In this manner the frame may be suspended from the shelf directly above the goods on the next lower shelf so that the price of the article or other information may be closely adjacent the goods.

In Fig. 9 the frame 44 is provided with the channel 10 which is formed by the lip 9 and in addition has an offset area 45 which is perforated to receive the tongues 46 of the characters 41. Above the offset 45 the top of the frame 44 has been recurved to form a finger 48 which may fit closely over the tongue 46 to hold the character 41 in position. These recurved fingers are seen also in Figs. 11 and 12. If desired, however, a rivet or attachment 49 may be passed through the front of the frame 44 and through the tongue of the character to hold it securely in position if a more or less permanent connection is desired. If only the characters in profile are desired the frame 44 may be cut off as seen in Fig. 11 so that there is no background for the characters and, of course, the channel II] will not be present. This form of the frame may be attached to any supporting structure in a manner other than the bracket 4| if desired.

Figs. 13 and 14 show a slightly different form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the variation being in the construction of the frame. In Figs. 13, 14 and 16 this frame 50 is shown as having a border 5| which is upstanding with respect to the principal portion 52 of the frame, the two parts being joined by the offset shoulder 53. At the ends the shoulder is perforated for a portion of its length as indicated at 5.4 in Fig. 13. This perforation at each end is provided in order that the insert card 55 of Fig. 17 may be properly positioned. The insert card has an extension 56 at each end which is arranged for insertion in the opening 54. This card 55 may have the characters 58 thereon as seen in Fig. 13, and it also may be provided with the slotted areas 59 so that cards or characters such as the member 60 may be inserted in these slots. As will be apparent in Fig.

13 the member '55 is tucked through the upper slot 59 and the lower slot, so that it is held firmly in position in the insert card 55, while the insert card itself is held in the frame because of the tongues 56 passing through the openings 54.

The profile characters l4 may also be positioned on the frame 50 if desired and a somewhat different form of attaching these characters is best seen in Figs. 14 and 16 where the back portion 52 of the frame is depressed to form a band 6| through which the characters l4 may be passed. In this form of the invention a detent 62 projects from the portion 52 and the tongue of the character is provided with an opening 64 which receives this detent, as best seen in Fig. 16. In this manner the profile characters are properly positioned and. held firmly about the frame.

Fig. 15 shows a double frame in which the insert card 55 has been removed to illustrate the manner of the cutouts and detents to hold the profile characters in position.

While several forms of the invention have been shown and described it is contemplated that the invention includes broadly the idea of a frame to support characters and which will also support profile characters to form an attractive sign.

What is claimed is:

l. A display frame including means thereon to receive various characters for display in profile above said frame, means to suspend the frame from a support, and means also on said frame to indicate the direction of the merchandise to which the display relates.

2. The combination of a display character and a supporting holder, in which the character is constructed with a tongue formed with a depression, a pivot connection between said tongue and saidsupport and spring means on the support including a lug which fits into the aforesaid depression to retain the character in position.

ELLIOTT S. YANCEY. 

